LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D.

Larisch
International Conference on Ground Improvement and Ground Control (ICGI 2012),
30 Oct. – 2 Nov. 2012, University of Wollongong, Australia
B. Indraratna, C. Rujikiatkamjorn and J S Vinod (editors)

LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT

PILES
M.D. LARISCH1,2, D.J. WILLIAMS1 and J.W. SLATTER2
1Golder Geomechanics Centre, School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia.
2Piling Contractors Pty Ltd, Box 346, Lawnton Qld 4501, Australia.

Auger displacement piles (ADP) have been used throughout the construction industry in Australia and worldwide for
decades as foundation elements for structures and embankments. Over the last two decades, several different
auger types have been developed, all classified as full displacement pile augers, each with small geometrical
variations. Static load test results carried out in Belgium from 1998 to 2002 were used by the authors to
demonstrate that ADPs installed by slightly different augers will show dissimilar load-settlement behaviour in similar
soil conditions. This can result in unanticipated risks for the design and installation of ADPs.

Keywords: auger displacement piles, auger mechanics, rigid inclusions, static load tests

1. BACKGROUND

Auger displacement piling is a rotary drilling technique in which a hollow stem, fitted with a purpose built
displacement tool at the tip, is drilled into the ground. Unlike non-displacement piles, like Continuous Flight Auger
(CFA) piles or conventional bored piles, the soil is not excavated during the penetration process, but is displaced
laterally and to a lesser extent vertically. The cavity created by the drilling tool is filled with concrete during the
extraction as described in Figure 1. The spoil created by ADP augers is minimal.

Installation of Auger displacement piles:

1. Set up auger at pile position and install

2. cap to close concrete outlet at auger tip.
3. Install auger by rotating clockwise and
4. applying vertical pull-down force.
5. Drill auger to design depth; the displacement
6. body of the auger pushes the soil cut by the auger tip into the
surrounding ground.
7. Pump concrete through hollow auger stem and extract auger
while rotating clockwise, always maintaining positive
concrete pressure with the auger embedded in fresh
concrete.
8. Install reinforcement into fresh concrete, if required.

Figure 1. Typical installation process of auger displacement piles using rotary drilling technique

2. BASIC AUGER MECHANICS FOR PILING AUGERS

In order to understand the general working principle of ADPs, it is important to understand the basic principles of
screw auger mechanics. Detailed discussion of screw auger models and the most accepted theories can be found
in the literature (Viggiani 1993, Fleming 1995, Slatter 2000) and are beyond the scope of this paper. However, it is
important to understand the influence of the auger geometry on the stresses and displacements created in the soil,

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 LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D. Larisch
as well as the installation parameters and pile load capacities. All screw auger theories and models are essentially
based on three basic auger actions: (i) soil cutting, (ii) soil transport, and (iii) soil displacement. Depending on the
auger shape, geometry and the main installation parameters (penetration rate, torque, pull down force, auger
rotations), the influence of the three auger actions is different. For an Atlas or Fundex auger (Figure 2), soil
displacement is the governing auger action, whereas soil cutting and transport are the major auger actions in the
lower auger sections of Omega and de Waal pile augers.

3. AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES (ADP)

Auger displacement piles were developed in the 1960’s in Europe (Bustamante and Gianeselli 1998). The Atlas
Pile was a pioneer of a bored, full-displacement pile, followed by the Omega pile as the flagship of the next
generation of ADPs (Figure 2). With the development of hydraulic piling rigs and the increasing torque and thrust
capacities of these machines, ADPs became more economical and over the past few decades several different
auger shapes have been developed by different manufacturers. The augers shown in Figure 2 are all referred to as
full-displacement pile augers, but generally fall in two different groups: (i) short augers (Atlas / Fundex), and (ii) long
auger systems (Omega, de Waal, others).

Figure 2. Selection of different full displacement piling augers (Atlas, Fundex & Omega, de Waal)

Omega and de Waal displacement augers are designed with longer flighted sections and the lower auger sections
are used for cutting and transporting the soil to the displacement body of the auger. The counter screw sections,
located above the displacement body, re-displace soil that has collapsed into the cavity behind the auger during the
extraction process. The auger geometry of Omega and de Waal augers seems similar, and visually both augers
seem comparable. However, the Omega auger is a progressive displacement auger. The stem diameter of the
lower auger section progressively increases towards the displacement body. During penetration, soil is displaced
progressively along the lower auger section and finds it peak at the location of the displacement body. Omega
augers require high installation torque. The de Waal auger can be defined as a rapid displacement auger, since the
displacement body has a larger diameter than the auger stem. Soil displacement occurs rapidly at the displacement
body and no displacement is expected below and above it. Installation torque and pile capacities should be lower
for rapid displacement augers compared to progressive augers (Slatter 2000).

The Atlas and Fundex systems rely on a short, single, full-helical flange to cut the soil and pull it in the displacement
body, with little or no soil transport. The compact displacement bodies displace the soil. Usually, high torque
capacities are required for these pile types, since a large amount of soil displacement occurs and the iron-cast,
auger-shaped drill head of the Fundex system is sacrificial. In contrast, the Atlas drill head is extracted and only the
drill tip is left in the ground. The installation of reinforcement is carried out prior to concrete placement for both
systems via the hollow casing or auger stem, unlike that described in Figure 1.

Well-accepted piling codes and standards (e.g. AS2159-2008, BS EN 12699:2001) do not allow for shaft friction
adjustments for different ADP auger types like Atlas, Fundex, Omega or de Waal. Some authors (Van Impe 1988,
Bustamante and Gianeselli 1998) developed general design methods for ADP mainly relying on in situ soil test
results (i.e. CPT, SPT, PMT), but none of the authors incorporates adjustment factors for different ADP geometries
into the design.

3.1. LOAD-SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF DIFFERENT ADP TYPES

Between 1998 and 2002, a research project on ADPs was carried out in Belgium (Holeyman 2001, Maertens and
Huybrechts 2003) to investigate ADP behaviour in granular soil (at Limelette) and cohesive soil (at Sint-Katelijne-

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 LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D. Larisch
Waver). The authors analysed the test results and compared the load-settlement behaviour of de Waal and Omega
piles, which use similar “long” displacement augers, with similar diameters in both granular and cohesive ground.
The test results of two Fundex piles are displayed in Figure 3 as an example of a “short” displacement auger pile
type.

Figure 3. Static load tests results of Omega, Fundex and de Waal piles from the Limelette campaign

3.1.1. LOAD-SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF ADP IN GRANULAR SOIL

For the test campaign in Limelette, several different ADP types were installed in the heterogeneous soil consisting
of three distinctive soil layers: (i) silty clay, (ii) clay, and (iii) clayey sand. Figure 3 compares the static load test
results for Omega, de Waal and Fundex piles with similar diameters and pile lengths (9.50 m). No information about
installation parameters was made available in the literature and it is assumed that those parameters, which reflect
the installation energy, were different for both the Omega and de Waal, as well as the Fundex piles.

Figure 3 shows the load-settlement behaviour, the soil profile, a typical CPT, and the pile toe level, for the Limelette
test campaign for Omega piles, de Waal piles (both 410 mm in diameter) and Fundex piles (base diameter 450 mm,
shaft diameter 380 mm). Figure 3 shows a very stiff response for the Fundex pile, with the highest shaft capacity.
The predominant auger action of this pile type is soil displacement at the auger tip, and during the installation
process the clayey sand around the lower pile shaft was compacted well, increasing the skin friction in this location.
The load-settlement responses of the other pile types show a generally lower stiffness, indicating an increased shaft
capacity for the Omega pile compared to the de Waal pile, in the range from 10 to 25%. The base responses of de
Waal and Omega piles, indicated by the steeply-angled end part of the load-settlement curve, are comparable and
the gradients are in the same range. The short Fundex pile shows a slightly softer response for base capacity.

3.1.2. LOAD-SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF ADP IN COHESIVE SOIL

For the test campaign in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, a similar set-up was used. Omega, de Waal and Fundex piles of
identical lengths and similar diameters (see 3.1.1) were installed into stiff clay, as shown in Figure 4. Two different
pile toe levels (7.60 m and 11.70 m) were used.

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 LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D. Larisch
Figure 4. Static load tests results of Omega, Fundex and de Waal piles (Sint-Katelijne-Waver campaign)

Figure 4 shows almost identical behaviour for the long Fundex and Omega piles. The short Fundex pile shows a
weaker toe response, but shaft capacity of similar stiffness. In general, both de Waal piles have a weaker stiffness
than the other piles and reduced shaft capacities of 5 to 10%. The base resistance of all piles is in the same range
for the long piles. De Waal and Omega piles show slightly stiffer toe responses compared to that of the Fundex
reference pile.

4. RIGID INCLUSIONS

Rigid inclusions are cast-in-place concrete or grout columns, constructed by vibrating or rotary drilling techniques.
This paper focuses on the installation of rigid inclusions using ADP, which have become increasingly popular in
Australia and all over the world during the last decade.

Rigid inclusions aim to improve a soil formation with semi-rigid or rigid columns which are installed in a certain grid.
These columns act as soil reinforcement elements and, unlike piles which transfer structural loads directly to stiffer
soil layers, rigid inclusions will improve the entire soil block. Rigid inclusions are separated from the structure or
embankment by a load-transfer layer, usually made of granular material, which distributes the loads applied by the
structure into the column heads and into the soil between the columns.

Rigid inclusions have been used as foundation elements for road embankments (Wong and Muttuval 2011) and
other structures, as well as for anti-liquefaction treatment (Plomteux 2007).

Plomteux and Lacazidieu (2007) define the condition of equilibrium by equation (1):

Q + Fn = Fp + Qp
(1)

where:

Q = vertical load at the head of the rigid inclusion;

Fn = negative skin friction, applied above the equal-settlement lower plane;

Fp = positive skin friction, mobilised below the equal-settlement lower plane; and

Qp = tip resistance in the anchorage layer.

Wong and Muttuvel (2011) define equilibrium as load-sharing between the soil and the rigid inclusion, combining: (i)
compressibility of the columns, (ii) yielding of the column toe, and (iii) load-sharing via a load-transfer platform.
Simon and Schlosser (2006) describe the shear mechanism and settlement mechanism of an embankment founded
on a soil block, reinforced by rigid inclusions with a load-distribution layer as shown in Figure 5.

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 LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D. Larisch
Figure 5. Shear mechanism of an embankment founded on rigid inclusions (Simon and Schlosser 2006)

The load applied by the embankment causes settlement of the load-transfer layer above the column heads up and
of the soil surrounding the columns us. The settlement of the soil and column at the “equal-settlement upper plane”
is similar. However, below this level the settlement us of the soil is greater than the column settlement up, which
causes the stiffer rigid inclusion to punch into the load-distribution layer.

The soil surrounding the upper part of the column applies negative skin friction to the shaft of the column until the
settlement of the soil us and that of the column up reach equilibrium at the neutral point corresponding to the “equal-
settlement lower plane”. Below the neutral point, the column settlement up is larger than the soil settlement us,
which causes the rigid inclusion to develop positive shaft resistance and base resistance below the toe of the
column. Eventually, stress equilibrium occurs over the full length of the inclusion.

The design of rigid inclusions relies mainly on shaft friction values for the determination of the load-settlement
behaviour of the rigid inclusion. It is critical for the design of the system to understand the two main contributing
aspects that determine the skin friction capacity of the rigid inclusion: (i) the in situ shear strengths of the soil, and
(ii) the capability of the installation method to increase or decrease this shear strength.

5. CONCLUSION

Auger displacement piles are used to install rigid inclusions as well as foundation piles. Different manufactures
have developed different augers and auger types. It has been demonstrated by static load tests during test
campaigns in Limelette (granular soil) and Sint-Katelijne-Waver (cohesive soil) that the load-displacement behaviour
of seemingly similar auger types (Omega, de Waal) varies, with shaft capacities differing by 10 to 25% at a
particular test site. Unfortunately, data about installation details were not published and could not be correlated with
the test results. It is concluded that progressive piling augers seem to produce higher shaft capacities than rapid
displacement augers. However, design specifications usually do not differentiate between progressive, rapid or any
other displacement auger types.

The design concept of rigid inclusions relies on the choice of accurate soil parameters to correctly estimate the shaft
friction and base capacity of the columns. Rigid inclusions installed with an auger type that potentially causes more
or less shaft friction than a comparable full-displacement auger, may result in the system failing, or being over-
designed and uneconomical.

The paper highlights the need for further research to better understand ADP behaviour in both granular and
cohesive soils. Load tests prior to the commencement of projects are strongly recommended to obtain reliable
values for specific auger types in specific soil conditions, and to ensure safe and also economical designs.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Australian Research Council Linkage scheme and industry sponsors Piling Contractors,
Golder Associates and Insitu Geotech Services for their ongoing support of the first author’s PhD research project to
investigate fine-grained soil behaviour during the installation process of auger displacement piles.

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 LOAD CAPACITY OF AUGER DISPLACEMENT PILES - Martin D. Larisch
7. REFERENCES

• AS 2159-2008. Piling – Design and Installation , Standards Australia

• Bustamante, M. and Gianeselli, L. (1998). Installation parameters and capacity of screwed piles, Proc. Deep
Foundations on Bored and Augered Piles III, Balkema, Rotterdam: 95-108.

• EN 12699:2000, Execution of special geotechnical work – Displacement piles, European Committee for
Standardization, Brussels

• Fleming, W. G. K. (1995). The understanding of continuous flight auger piling, its monitoring and control. Proc.
Instn Civ. Engrs Geotech,: 157 - 165.

• Holeyman, A. E. (2001). Screw Piles – Installation and design in stiff clay. A.A. Balkema, Netherlands

• Maertens, J. and Huybrechts, N. (2003). Belgian Screw Pile Technology – Design and Recent Developments.
1st edition A.A. Balkema, Netherlands

• Plomteux, C. and Lacazedieu, M. (2007). Embankment Construction on Extremely Soft Soils using

• Controlled Modulus Columns for Highway 2000 Project in Jamaica, Proceedings of the 16th Southeast Asian
Geotechnical Conference, Kuala Lumpur.

• Simon, B. and Schlosser F. (2006). Soil reinforcement by vertical stiff inclusions in France. Symp. Rigid
Inclusions in difficult subsoil conditions, 11-12 mayo, Mexico, 22p.

• Slatter, J. W. (2000). The fundamental behaviour of displacement screw piling augers. Department of Civil
Engineering. Melbourne, Monash University. PhD thesis.

• Wong, P. and Muttuvel, T. (2011). Support of Road Embankments on Soft Ground using Controlled Modulus
Columns. Proc. Int. Conference on Advances in Geotechnical Engineering, Perth, 621-626

• van Impe, W. F. (1988). Consideration on the auger pile design. Proceedings Deep Foundations on Augered
and Bored Piles I. Balkema, Rotterdam: 193 - 218.

• Viggiani, C. (1993). Further experiences with auger piles in Naples area. Proceedings Deep Foundations on
Bored and Auger Piles II. Balkema, Rotterdam: 445 - 455.

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